Electric-light hanger



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

I G. W. SMITH. ELECTRIC LIGHT HANGER.

No. 454,815. Patented June 23,1891.

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No. 454,815. Patented June 23,1891.

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(No Model.)

G. W. SMITH. ELECTRIC LIGHT HANGER.

une 23,1891.

Patente UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE ELLS SMITII, OF UNION CITY, INDIANA.

ELECTRIC-LIGHT HANGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,815, dated'J'une23, 1891.

Application filed January 22, 1891- Serial No. 378,697. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE WELLS Snrrn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Union City, in the county of Randolph and State of Indiana,have invented a new and useful Electric-Light IIanger, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in. hangers for electric lights, theobject in view being to provide a device of this character which willproperly support the light and at the same time admit of its beingconveniently lowered when necessary to make repairs or to renew orarrange the carbons, and also to provide means for disconnecting thelamp from the circuitin such a manner as to keep the circuit closedwhile the lamp is disconnected therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism whereby theoperation of lowering the lamp will operate to close the electriccircuit in the hanger, thus preventing interruption in the line-current,and also disconnect the lamp from all electrical connection with theline or with the conducting portions of the hanger, thereby making itimpossible for the workmen to receive injury from shocks when makingrepairs while the current is on.

These objects and such others as fairly fall within the scope ofmyinvention I attain by means of the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, the peculiar construction, combination, andarrangement of which will be hereinafter fully described, and thespecific points of novelty particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention, showingthe same suspended from the horizontal arm of the supportingcrane. Fig.2 is a side elevation of my invention with the hood or casing removed,showing the device suspended from a wire and the operating parts intheir normal position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 2,showing the parts in position for lowering the lamp. Fig. 4 is a rearelevation of the interior mechanism, showing the casing in section. Fig.5 is a front elevation of the upper pulley-block and the mechanismattached thereto. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on. the line 2 2of Fig. 2. Figs. 7 and S are detail views showing modified forms ofcontact-lugs for the lower pulley-block. Fig. 9 is a detail sideelevation of a modified form of one of the conducting-levers, showingthe electrical conductorembeddedtherein. Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13illustrate modified forms of my invention.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in theseveral views.

In Fig, 1 is shown my improved hanger I1, suspended from the horizontalarm 2 of the usual crane or support. The working parts of my inventionare inclosed within a hood or casing 3, which I prefer to make in theform of a shield and ornament with the national colors, although it willbe understood that any suitable and desirable form or ornamentation maybe used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that theoperating parts of my invention consist of two pulley-blocks 4 and 5,the upper block 4: being rigidly secured to a top piece 6, which formsthe top of thehood or casing 3 and also is a supporting-block for thedevice. Each of the pulley-blocks 4 and 5 is provided with a sheave 7,housed within the said blocks. To the sides of the upper pulley-block a,near the lower end thereof, are secured laterally-extending studs 8 0,which are formed of insulating material and round in shape, havingreduced portions 10 10, upon which are journaled metallic levers 11 12.Suitable washers 13 13, also of insulating material, maybe placed uponthe ends of the lugs 8 9 between the levers ll 12 and the securingnuts14: 14. The lower arms 15 15 of the levers 11 12 are formed into heads16 16,11aving inclined curved surfaces 17 17 and hooks l8 18. The saidlower arms are also provided with curved conducting-arms l9 l9,pivotedto their sides and adapted to hang against the sides of the hooks 18 18.The said arms 19 19 are provided with inwardly-proj ecting stoplugs 1919 to limit the downward movement thereof. The purpose of the foregoingc011- struction will be hereinafter explained.

The upper arms 20 20 of the levers ll 12 extend upwardly and forwardlynearly to the top piece 6 and beyond the front of the pulley-block 4,where they are provided with inwardly-projecting contact-lugs 21 22. Aconducting-strip 23 extends across the front edge of the block4 at theupper end thereof in proper position for the lugs 21 22 upon the levers11 12 to make contact with the opposite ends thereof when the saidlevers are drawn backwardly, as shown in Fig. 3.

A rod 24 extends backwardly from each of the upper ends of the levers 1112, and the said rods 24 are connected together at their rear endsbehind the block 4 by a transverse piece 25 of insulating material.Springs 26 26 project upwardly from a block 27, secured to the lowerrear edge of the pulley-block 4, the upper ends of which springs passthrough the transverse piece 25 and serve to keep the upper ends of thelevers normally in a forward position, as shown in Fig. 2. cord 28 issecured to the center of the transverse piece 25 and extends along thearm 2 of the support for the hanger and down the vertical portionthereof to within the reach of the workman. By means of the said cord 28the upper ends of the levers 11 12 may be drawn backward against thetension of the spring 26 to the position shown in Fig. 3.

The upper end of the lower pulley-block 5, to which. the lamp issuspended, is formed of insulating material and has twolaterally-extending lugs 29 30 secured to the sides thereof in suchposition as to pass into the hooks 18 18 when the said pulley-block israised to its normal position and so suspend the said block 5 by thelevers 11 12, as shown in Fig. 2.

The lower end of the pulley-block 5 is extended longitudinally, as at 3131, and below these extensions is suspended the lamp 32 in any suitablemanner. Conductors 33 34 are secured at their upper ends to the ends ofthe contact-lugs 29 30 and at their lower ends to the sides of thepulley-block 5, forming also braces for the said lugs 29 30. Suitableconductors 35 36 are secured to the lower ends of the conductors 33 34and serve to carry the electricity to the lamp 32. An insulation 37 isinterposed between the conductors 33 34 and the pulley-block 5. A ropeor cord 38 has one end secured under the block 27 upon the pulley-block4 and is passed downwardly through an eye 39, round the sheave 7, andupwardly through an eye 40 of thelowerpulley-block 5, then over thesheave 7 in the upper pulley-block 4, and along the arm 2 and down towithin reach of a workman, thelower end of the said rope 38 beingsecured in any suitable manner, or it may be attached to a Windlass forconvenience of operation.

The upper end of the lower pulley-block 5 is of insulating material andwedge-shaped, as shown at 41, and when the said block is raised to itsnormal position the wedge-shaped upper end 41 passes betweencontact-springs 42 43, which are secured to the inner sides of the lowerarms of the levers 11 12, as shown in Fig. 4. The said levers 11 12 arealso provided with suitable binding-posts 44 45.

In operation my device may be hung upon the horizontal arm 2 of asuitable support, as

A rope or shown in Fig. 1, or it may be swung upon a wire 2, as shown inFig. 2. In either case the ropes 28 and 38 will be extended horizontallyto a vertical standard or other suitable point where they may be broughtdown so as to be within reach of a person upon the ground. hen the craneor support is formed of gas-pipe, the ropes 28 and 38 may be carriedthrough the inside of the pipe, which will protect the said ropes fromthe weather. The line-wires or main-conductors 48 49 will be secured toinsulators 4G 47, secured at the most suitable points upon the top piece6, and flexible conductors 5O 51 are secured at one end to the ends ofthe main-line wires 48 49 and at their opposite ends to the bindingposts44 upon the levers 11 12.

The contact-lugs 29 30 may be round, as shown in Fig. 2, or may bewedge-shaped upon their upper sides, as shown in Fig. 7, or they may beprovided with rollers, as in Fig. 8, whichever may be found mostdesirable in practice.

Should the levers 11 12 be made of iron or other metal of lessconductivity than copper, they may be suitably grooved to receive aconductor of high conductivity, as shown at 53 in Fig. 9.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Then the parts are in theirnormal position, the lower pulley-block 5 is supported by the lugs 2930, resting in the hooks 18 18 at the lower end of the levers 11 12, theupperwedgeshaped end 41 of insulating material being between thecontact-springs 42 43. The lamp 32, which is attached to the lower partof the block 5, is electrically connected to the said block by theconductors 35 36, one of which extends from each of the conductors 33 34to one of the carbons of the lamp. The electric current will enter fromthe positive main-line wire 48 through the flexible conductor andbinding-post 44 to the lever 11, from the hook 18 of which it will passto the lug 20 upon the lower pulley-block 5 through the conductors 33and 35 to the positive carbon in the lamp. The return will be from thenegative carbon in the lamp through the conductors 36 and 34 to the lug30, from which it will pass to the hook 18 of the lever 12, then fromthe binding-post 45 by the conductor 51 to the negative main-line wire49, thus completing the circuit through the hanger and lamp. Should itbe necessary to renew or arran e the carbons or make repairs on the lampwhile the current is on, the operation may be performed with safety bylow ering the pulley-block 5 and with it the lamp in the followingmanner: The operator will first pull upon the rope 38 to raise the lowerpulley-block 5 slightly, thereby raising the lugs 29 30 in the hooks 1818. Then a pull upon the cord 28 will draw the upper ends of the levers11 12 backward until the contactlugs 21 22 are brought into contact withopposite ends of the conducting-strip 23 upon the upper pulley -block 4,thus short circuiting the current through the said strip 23 and cuttingout the lamp. The two previously-described movements will bring theparts to the position, shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, by reference towhich it will be seen that if the rope 38 is now paid out it will allowthe pulley-block 5 and the lamp to descend. As soon as the upper end 41of the pulley-block 5 has passed from between the contact-springs 42 43the latter will make contact with each other, and thus close the circuitat this point, while the lamp passes from all electrical contact withthe fixtures upon the top piece 6 and descends to within reach of theworkmen, supported by the rope 38, the circuitmeanwhile beingclosedabove,as hereinbefore described. As soon as the lower pulley-block isclearof the hooks 18 18 upon the levers ll 12 and the springs 42 43 havecome together the cord 28 may be released, which will allow the levers11 12 to assume their normal position, the circuit being closed throughthe springs 42 43. In order to raise the lamp back to the hanger andinto the circuit, it is only necessary to pull upon the rope 38, whichpasses over the sheaves 7 7 in the pulley-blocks 4 5 and will raise theblock 5 and with it the lamp toward the block 4, as will be readilyunderstood. As the pulleyblock 5 approaches the pulley-block 4 thecontact-lugs 29 30 will come in contact with the inclined surfaces 17 17of the heads 16 16- of the lower arms of the levers ll 12 and also withthe curved conducting-arms 19 19, the lower ends of which hang bygravity in close proximity to the hooks 18 18, thus making electricalconnection with the lamp. As the upward movement continues thewedgeshaped upper end 41 of the pulley-block 5 will pass between thecontact-springs 42 43, separating the said springs and causing thecurrent to flow into the lugs 29 30 and pass through the lamp. Theupward movement of the pulley-block 5 is continued until the lugs 29 30pass over and into the hooks 18 18, thus suspending the said block 5 andthe lamp by the levers 11 12 of the hangers, as hereinbefore explained.

The purpose of the arms 19 19 is to keep an electrical connection withthe lugs 29 30 while the latter are passing over the hooks 18 1S andwhile the wedge-shaped end 41 of the block 5 is passing between thecontact-spring 42 43, thus preventing any break in the circuit orsparking while the pulley-block 5 is being drawn in place.

It will be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the precisedetails of construction as herein set forth, as many modifications maybe made therein without departing from the spirit of my inventionas, forinstance, I have shown in Fig. 10 a modification in which coiledretractile springs 60 are secured at one end to the sides of thepulley-block 4, near the upper front edge thereof, and have their rearends connected to the ends of the insulating-piece 25, the springs 60operating instead of the springs 26 to keep the levers 11 12 in theirnormal position.

In Figs. 11 and 12 I have shown in two sectional views, taken at rightangles to each other, a modification, in which the sheave 7 in the upperpulley-block is omitted and in lieu thereof a hollow drum 61 is mountedupon a shaft 02, which passes through the said drum and the block 4 andis rigidly secured to the latter. A fiat spring 63 is secured at one endto the shaft 62 and is coiled therearound within the drum 61 andfastened at its opposite end to the interior of the said drum. Theexterior of the drum G1 is grooved, as shown in Fig. 12, and a fiatmetallic ribbon 04 is secured at one end to the pulley-block 4 andpasses downwardly around the sheave 7 of the lower pulley-block andupwardly to the drum (31, within the groove of which it is socured. Theribbon 64 is long enough to allow of the lower pulley-block and the lampbeing lowered so as to come within easy reach of the operator, and whenthe said lowerblock and lamp are in their raised position the ribbon 64will be coiled upon the drum 01. The relation of the spring 63 andribbon 64 is such as to cause the spring to be wound up when the ribbonis unwound from the drum, and the tension of the said spring is arrangedto about balance the lamp while it is being raised or lowered.

The rope 28 may be carried over a sheave 65 to the ceiling of a room andhang down to within reach of the operator, as shown in Fig. 11.

If found desirable, a rope (36 may be substituted for the ribbon 64, asshown in Fig. 13.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In an electric-lamp hanger, a block secured to a suitable support,levers pivoted upon the said block, hooks at the lower ends of the saidlevers arranged to support a lamp, and contact-arms pivoted to the saidlevers to hang over and close the hooks of the same, substantially asdescribed.

2. In an electric-lamp hanger, a block, levers pivoted upon the saidblock, a yoke joined to the levers at their upper ends, springssuitablyconnectcd to the said block to operate upon the yoke to keep thesaid levers in their normal position, and hooks at the lower ends of thesaid levers arranged to support a lamp, substantially as described.

3. In an electric-lamp hanger, a block socured to a suitable support,levers 11 12, pivoted upon said block, a yoke secured to the upper endsof the said levers, comprising the rods 24 24 and a transverse piece 25,and springs secured to the said block, arranged to operate upon thetransverse piece 25 to keep the levers 11 12 in their normal position,said levers being provided with hooks at their lower ends, arranged tohold a lamp, substantially as described.

4. In an electric-lamp hanger, a top piece 6, secured to a suitablesupport, a block et, secured to said top piece, levers 11 12, pivotedupon said block 4, a yoke consisting of the rods 21 24, secured to theupper ends of the levers 11 12 and secured together at their ends byatransverse piece 25, springs secured to the said block, arranged tooperate upon the transverse piece 25 to keep the levers 11 12 in theirnormal position, hooks upon the lower ends of the said levers, arrangedto hold a lamp, and contact-arms 19 19, pivoted to the said levers tohang over and close the hook of the same, substantially as described.

5. In an electric-lamp hanger, a block secured to a suitable support,studs projecting laterally from the said block, levers pivoted upon thesaid studs, a yoke connecting the upper ends of the said leverstogether, springs arranged to operate upon the said yoke to keep thelevers 11 12 in their normal position, and hooks upon the lower ends ofthe said levers to hold a lamp, substantially as described.

6. In an electric-light hanger, the levers 11 12, studs 8 9, ofinsulating material, upon which the said levers are pivoted, a yoke thecross-piece 25 of which is of insulating material, arranged to connectthe upper ends of the said levers together, hooks upon the lower ends ofthe said levers, arranged to support a lamp, substantially as described.

7. In an electric-light hanger, the levers 11 12, studs of insulatingmaterial secured upon a supporting-block at, upon which the said leversare pivoted, a yoke having a cross-piece 25, of insulating material,connecting the levers together at their upper ends, contactlugs 21 22upon the upper ends of the levers 11 12, a conducting-strip 23 upon thesaid supporting-block 4t,with which the lugs 21 22 are adapted to makecontact, hooks 18 at the lower ends of the levers 11 12, adapted tosupport a lamp, springs to hold the said contactlugs 21 22 out ofcontact with the strip 23, and means for moving the levers to bring thecontact-lugs into contact with the conductingstrip 23, substantially asdescribed.

8. In an electric-lamp hanger, the combination of the levers pivotedupon the insulating-studs and having hooks 18 18 at their lower endswith a block having a lamp attached thereto, and lugs upon the saidblock adapted to engage the said hooks 18 18 to suspend the said blockin the said hooks, substantially as described.

9. In an electric-lamp hanger, the combination of the levers pivotedupon insulatingstuds and having hooks 18 18 at their lower ends with ablock having a lamp attached thereto, lugs upon the said block adaptedto engage the said hooks 18 18 to suspend the said block in the saidhooks, and means for raising and lowering said block, substantially asdescribed.

10. In an electric-lamp hanger, the combination of a block 4, studs 8 9,of insulating material, upon the said block, conducting-levers 11 12,pivoted to the studs, to which levers are connected the opposite ends ofthe line-wire, and hooks 18 18 at the lower ends of the said levers witha second block 5, to which is attached a lamp, contact-lugs upon thesaid block 5, electrically connected to said lamp and adapted to engagethe hooks 18 18 upon the said levers 11 12, and thus support the block 5and lamp and also bring the lamp into electrical contact with the levers11 12, and means for raising and lowering the block 5, substantially asdescribed, for the purpose set forth.

11. In an electric-lamp hanger, the combi nation of a block 5 andcontact-lugs 29 30 upon the said block, to which the opposite poles ofan electric lamp are electrically attached, with OGHGUCUDg-IQVGIS 11 12,to which are 0011- nected the ends of the linewires, hooks 18 18 uponthe said conducting-levers to engage the lugs 29 30, insulatingstuds 89, upon which the said levers are pivoted, contactlugs 21 22 at theupper ends of the levers, adapted to make and break contact with aconducting-strip 23, and means for raising and lowering said blocks 5,substantially as described.

12. In an electric-lamp hanger, the combination of a block 5,the upperend 11 of which is of insulatingmaterial, and contact-lugs 29 30 uponthe block 5, to which the opposite poles of an electric lamp areelectrically attached, with condueting-levers 11 12, pivoted upon asuitable support, to which lovers are connected the ends of theline-wire, hooks 18 18 upon the said conducting-levers to engage thelugs 29 30, contact-springs 4:2 13 upon the levers 11 12, between whichthe upper insulating end 11 of the block 5 is adapted to pass when thesaid block is raised to engage the hooks 18 18, substantially asdescribed.

13. In an electric-lamp hanger, the combi nation of theconducting-levers 11 12, to which are connected the line-wires, the saidlevers being pivoted 'to a support and insulated from each other, hooks18 18 at the lower ends of the said levers, contact-arms 19 19, pivotedto the levers, and means for closing the circuit from lever to leverwhen the block 5 is withdrawn therefrom, with the block 5, contact-lugsupon the block 5, adapted to engage the hooks 18 18 and conduct thecurrent from the levers 11 12 to the lamp and also to support the saidblock and lamp in an elevated position, substantially as described.

11. In an electric-lamp hanger, the co1nbination of the spring-actuatedconducting-levers 11 12,110 which are connected theline-wires, the saidlevers being pivoted to a supportingblock 4. and insulated from each.other, hooks 18 18 at their lower ends, contact-arms 19 19, pi votedthereto, and means for closing the circuit from lever to lever when theblock 5 is withdrawn therefrom, with the block 5, contact-lugs upon theblock 5, adapted to engage the hooks 18 18 and conduct the current fromthe levers 11 12 to the lamp, and also to support the said block andlamp in an elevated position, and means for raising and lowering thesaid block 5, consisting of a drum journaled in the block 4, a rope ormetallic ribbon secured to the block 4-, passing under a sheave in theblock 5 and over the drum in the block 4:, and means for operating thesaid rope, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In an electric-lamp hanger, the springactuated levers 11 12, pivotedto a suitable support, hooks 18 18, contact-lugs 29 30, elec tricallyconnected to a lamp and adapted to be engaged by the hooks 18 18,conductors 53, embedded in the said levers to convey the current fromthe main line to the lamp, and means for making electrical connectionsfrom the conductor of one lever to the conductor of the other when thelugs 29 30 are withdrawn from the hooks 18 18, substantially asdescribed.

16. In an electric-lamp hanger, the combination of an inclosing caseconsisting of sides made in the form of a shield and a top piece 6,suspended from a suitable support and having insulators secured thereto,to which are attached the ends of the line-wire, with a block 4,insulating-studs upon the block 4c, the spring-actuatedcomlucting-levers pivoted upon the said insulatingstuds, said leversbeing connected by suitable conductors to the ends of the line-wire,hooks 18 18, secured to the lower ends of the said levers, contact-lugsupon a block 5, adapted to be e11- gaged by the said hooks, saidcontact-lugsbeing electrically connected to an electric lamp suspendedfrom the block 5, means for engaging and disengaging the lugs 20 30 andhooks 18 18, contact-arms 19 19,pivoted to thelevers 11 12 and arrangedto hang over the hooks 18 18 and make electrical contact with the lugs20 30 and prevent sparking when the latter are moved into or out of thehooks 18 18, and means for raising and lowering the block 5, said levers11 12 being provided with suitable means for closing the circuit fromlever to lever when the block 5 is lowered, substantially as described,for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE WELLS SMITH. -Witnesses:

JOHN A. SHOCKNEY, THEODORE SHOCKNEY.

